Government College Of Engineering &
Textile Technology, Berhampore
Topic - Fabric Bending Measurement Techniques
INTRODUCATION
• Fabric bending is a critical mechanical property that
significantly influences the drape, comfort, and overall
appearance of textile products.
• The bending behavior of a fabric is determined by its
structural characteristics, thickness, and material
composition.
• Accurate measurement of fabric bending is vital for
quality control, product design, and performance
prediction.
• Various techniques, have been developed to evaluate this
property, each offering different levels of precision and
applicability depending on the end-use requirements.
Importance Of Measuring Bending
1. Predicts Fabric Drape and Appearance
Bending measurements help determine how a fabric will hang, fold, or flow, which is vital
for aesthetic and design purposes.
2. Improves Wearer Comfort
Fabrics with suitable bending properties conform better to body movement, enhancing
comfort in garments.
3. Supports Quality Control
Regular bending tests ensure consistency across fabric batches, maintaining product
standards.
4. Guides Material Selection
Understanding bending behavior aids in choosing the right fabric for specific applications
like upholstery, sportswear, or composites.
Parameters In Fabric Bending
1. Bending Rigidity:
Resistance to bending (Nm).
2. Bending Length:
Distance a fabric bends under its own weight.
3. Flexural Rigidity:
Product of bending length and weight per unit area.
4. Hysteresis:
Energy loss during bending and recovery.
Cantilever Test (Peirce's Method)
•The horizontal strip of fabric is allowed to bend like cantilever, index its own
weight.
•One of the oldest and most common methods.
•Used to calculate bending length and flexural rigidity.
•This is also known as Shirley Stiffness Tester.
Working Procedure Cantilever Test
Where,
M = Mass per unit area (g/m²)
G = Flexural rigidity.
C = Bending length (mm)
0 = Angle fabric bends
at theta = 7.1 ^ 0 X = 1
A rectangular strip of fabric, 6 in. x 1 in., is mounted on a horizontal
platform.
Hanging Loop Method
Fabrics that are too limp to give a satisfactory result by the cantilever method may have
their stiffness measured by forming them into a loop and allowing it to hang under its
own weight.
1. Ring loop:
L = strip length,
lo = the distance between grip to the farthest point
D = l – l0
lo = 0.3183 L
Bending length (C) = L × 0.133 × f(θ),
θ = 157º × d/lo,
Hanging Loop Method
2. Heart Loop:
L = strip length,
lo = the distance between grip to the farthest point
D = l – l0
lo = 0.1337L,
Bending length (C)= L x 0.1337 x f(θ)
θ = 32.85º x d/lo
Flexural Rigidity (G) = M x C3 x 9.807 x 103 Micro N.m,
where C = bending length in mm.
Bending Modulus Where T = fabric thickness (mm)
Kawabata evaluation system of fabric (KES-F)
KES-FB 2 ( For Bending)
Measures bending rigidity and hysteresis
using controlled conditions.
Fabric is bent over a curved surface under
specific force.
High sensitivity and repeatability.
Widely used in textile research.
Output: Graphs of moment vs. curvature.
Limitations: Expensive, specialized
training required.
Fabric Assurance By Simple Testing(FAST)
FAST 2 – Bending meter
• FAST-2 is a bending Meter which is used to
measure the stiffness or conversely, the
flexibility of a fabric.
• The instrument works on the cantilever
principle, which involves pushing a fabric over
a vertical edge until it has bent to a specified
angle (41.5o).
• A stiff fabric will need pushing further to bend
to this angle, whereas a flexible, or limp one
will fall quickly.
Digital Image-Based Methods
Use high-resolution cameras
and software to track fabric
deformation.
Non-contact, real-time analysis.
Applications in 3D simulation
and smart textiles.
Techniques: Digital Image
Correlation (DIC),
photogrammetry.
Still under development for
industry standards.
Conclusion & Future Trends
Bending behavior is vital for textile
functionality and user experience.
Choice of method depends on accuracy
needs, cost, and application.
Emerging focus on non-contact, real-
time digital methods.
Future: AI-integrated testing, smart
fabric analysis, virtual prototyping.
Standardization and automation will
drive innovation in fabric mechanics.
Reference
I. Principles of Textile Testing
by - J.E. Booth
II. Textile Testing, IIT Delhi (NPTEL)
by - Dr. Apurba Das
III. Characterization of fabric bending behavior: A review of measurement principles.
Tushar K Ghosh & Naiyue Zhou (Indian Journal of Fibre & Textile ResearchVol. )
IV. Measurement of fabric drape using digital image processing.
Abdulraheem Giwa, E.O. Achukwu, Mohammed W Shebe
